Noisy heteroclinic networks

The influence of small noise on the dynamics of heteroclinic networks is studied, with a particular focus on noise-induced switching between cycles in the network. Three different types of switching are found, depending on the details of the underlying deterministic dynamics: random switching between the heteroclinic cycles determined by the linear dynamics near one of the saddle points, noise induced stability of a cycle, and intermittent switching between cycles. All three responses are explained by examining the size of the stable and unstable eigenvalues at the equilibria. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.